Drum-head tightening device



.Feb. 28, 1933. V G HARRI 1,899,461

DRUM HEAD TIGHTENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1952 //VVE/VT'OR- G. HARRls Mia Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES GEORGE HARRIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA DRUM-HEAD TIGHTENING DEVICE Application filed February 12, 1932.

My invention relates to improvements in drum tightening devices wherein, a band, bent upon itself to form a loop, and legs of equal length wound around a portion of the vellum drum-heads extended over circumferentially grooved hoops, operates in conjunction with means for engaging said loop and moving the same to impart an equal tension to both legs of the band, whereby both drumheads may be tightened with a uniform tens1on.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drumhead tightening device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drumhead tightening device having improved means for providing a uniform or equal tension to both drum-heads.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved device of the character described whereby a drum-head may be further tightened after it has loosened from a previous stretching.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the device disclosed in the drawing forming a part of the present application, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts thruout the specification and drawing, and in which- Fig. 1 is a broken plan view, partly in section, of a drum, disclosing my improvements applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation, partly in section.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 is used to designate the usual shell or cylinder and a pair of circumferentially disposed flanges 2 are mounted upon opposite edges of said shell, as disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The cylinder 1 and flanges 2 may be secured together by any suitable securing device, not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention.

The flanges 2 are provided, on a portion only of their respective peripheries, with a plurality of teeth 3, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

A ring or hoop 4, having a circumferentially disposed groove 6, is loosely mounted upon band or wire 8, and as the loop of said wire Serial No. 592,625.

each end of the drum and the usual vellum drum-heads 7 are stretched over these hoops 4, and the grooves 6 therein, as disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

A wire or other suitable band 8 is bent upon cry of the cylinder 1 and between the circum B ferential flanges 2. A yoke 14 has its opposite ends seated within oppositely disposed teeth 3 of the flanges 2, and a hook 16, provided with a threaded stem 16, loosely mounted thru said yoke 14, and provided with a suitable nut 15, is connected to a hook 12 upon said block 12 by means of a link 10 whereby turning of said nut 15 will move said block 12 and thereby exert a tension upon the or band 8 is slidably mounted within the arcuate groove 11 of the block 12, a uniform tension will be applied to the said band 8 which will draw the vellum drum-heads into the grooves 6 and thereby provide a uniform tension upon both drum-heads.

When the heads 7 have sagged or stretched to an extent which requires restretching, and the limit of movement of said threaded stem 16 has been reached, the same is loosened to a sufficient degree and the yoke is moved further away from the block by repositioning the same within a new set of aligned teeth 3 within the flanges 2. By again tightening the nut 15, the block 12 is again moved and the drum-heads may be further stretched to the required tension.

A hoop or ring 17 is provided upon each end of the drum, which rings 17 surround the rings 4 and the circumferential grooves 6 therein, said rings 17 being provided to enclose the said grooves 6 and thereby prevent the band or wire 8 from emerging or escaping from their respective grooves while loosi en ed. The hoop 17 is provided with a circumferential slot 17, as disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing, extending a sufficient distance to permit the band 8 to pass from the grooves 6 of the rings 4, inside of said hoop 17, to the extensions 11 of the block 12 and the securing posts 9. The hoop 17 may be secured to the flanges 2 by any suitable means, not shown, as they form no part of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. lhe combination with a drum con1prising a cylinder having circumferentially grooved hoops on opposite ends thereof and a vellum-drum-head stretched over each hoop and the groove therein, of a wire bent upon itself to form a loop and having each leg thereof wound around the vellum over the grooves and having the ends of said legs anchored to said drum and means mounted upon said drum for engaging the loop of said wire and imparting a tension to said wire to draw said vellum into said grooves and thereby provide a uniform tension on both vellum drum-heads.

2. The combination with a drum comprising a cylinder having circumferentially grooved hoops on opposite ends thereof and a vellum-drum-head stretched over each hoop and the groove therein, of a band bent upon itself to form a loop and two legs, each leg being Wound around one of the vellum drum-heads over the groove within its respective hoop, and the end of each leg being anchored to said drum; means mounted upon said drum for engaging said loop; and means for moving the engaging means to impart a uniform tension upon both legs of said band to draw both vellum drum-heads into their respective grooves and thereby impart a uniform tension to both drum-heads.

8, The combination with a drum comprising a cylinder having circumferentially grooved hoops on opposite ends thereof and a vellum drum-head stretched over each hoop and the groove therein, of a band bent upon itself to form a loop and two legs, each leg being wound around one of the vellum drumheads over the groove within its respective hoop, and the end of each leg being anchored to said drum; means mounted upon said drum for engaging said loop; and adjustable means for moving the engaging means to impart a uniform tension upon both legs of said band to draw both vellum drum-heads into their respective grooves and thereby impart a uniform tension to both drum-heads.

4. The combination with a drum comprising a cylinder having a circumferentially grooved hoop upon each end thereof and a vellum drum-head mounted upon each hoop and extending over the groove therein, of a band bent upon itself to form a loop and two legs, each of said legs being wound around one of the vellum drum-heads over its respective groove and having its end anchored to said drum; a block, having an arcuate groove therein engaging the loop of said band, slidably mounted upon the cylinder of said drum; and means for engaging and moving said block to impart a uniform tension to both legs of said band to move the portions of the drum-heads over the circumferential grooves into said grooves and thereby impart a uniform tension to both drumheads.

5. The combination with a drum comprising a cylinder having a circumferentially grooved hoop upon each end thereof and a vellum drum-head mounted upon each hoop and extending over said grooves, of a band bent upon itself to form a loop and two legs of equal length, each of said legs being wound upon one of said vellum heads over; 85 said groove, and the end of each leg being anchored to said drum; a pair of circumferential flanges mounted upon said drum, said flanges having aligned teeth formed Within a portion of their peripheries; a block slid-Q3 ably mounted upon the cylinder and between said flanges and provided with an arcuate groove engaging the loop of the band; a yoke engaging the teeth in the circumferential flanges; and a turn-buckle connected to said yoke and to said block whereby said block, may be moved to impart a uniform tension to both legs of the band and thereby uniformly tighten the drum-heads with an equal tension. T1

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my signature.

GEORGE 521 HARRIS, B ELIZABETH HARRIS. T 

